2012 Pawprint competition
@OmaniDog and owner Jayne McGill from Cardiff have won a fabulous holiday to the Isle of Wight in National Pet Month’s #DogHols competition on Twitter.
The search to find the nation’s best doggy holiday story via the social networking site was launched during National Pet Month – April 7 to May 7 2012.
National Pet Month teamed up with cross-Solent operator Wightlink to offer a four night mid-week break at Nitons Barns on the Isle of Wight in a two-bedroom barn for up to four people and their canine companions.
Pet lovers across the UK shared a variety of holiday dog tales within the Twitter 140 character limit, making it tough for judges to choose the winner.
After much debate @OmaniDog was chosen for this amusing tweet, complete with pic: “I loved my #DogHols at Lyme Regis. Bow wow to the cottage, the beach & pubs – nowhere was off-limits!”
When National Pet Month broke the good news via Twitter, @OmaniDog, with a wag of the tail tweeted: “Woof woof woof! What great news on a Monday morning. Thank you so much!!!! I’m such a lucky dog :-)”
@esc4p33, @Betht1979, @TheAnimalNews and @jordenc all won runners-up prizes of return ferry tickets to the Isle of Wight for a car, four passengers and their canines.
The competition also tied in with the launch of Wightlink’s new dog-centric free Island guide, Pawprint, written by Isle of Wight dogs and their humans.
National Pet Month is a registered charity and encourages pet owners across the UK to come together and celebrate life with their pets.
As well as promoting responsible pet ownership, National Pet Month also highlights the mutual benefits of living with pets, the role of pet care specialists and the value of working and assistance companion animals.
“Our #DogHols Twitter competition was a great success, attracting some fantastic entries from across the UK. Congratulations to @OmaniDog and our runners-up plus a big thank you to all those who took the time to send us their stories. We very much enjoyed reading them,” says Phil Sketchley, National Pet Month Chairman.
What's Pawprint?
April is National Pet Month and, to coincide with this in 2012, the leading cross-Solent operator Wightlink (0871 376 1000 www.wightlink.co.uk) launched Pawprint, a new 24-page illustrated booklet that’s a guide with a difference, guaranteed to set tails wagging.
Written by Isle of Wight dogs and their humans, it recommends the best year-round beaches, woodland walks and cliff adventures together with details of dog-friendly pubs and accommodation for dogs to visit on holiday with their families. Pawprint features the favourite haunts of a dozen Wight dogs including Sherrie, an accomplished surfer dog and Daisy-May, the dog hotelier. Free copies are available now by calling 0871 376 1000 or can be downloaded from the Wightlink website at www.wightlink.co.uk/pawprint.
About the first-prize Niton Barns break
The prize: A four-night mid-week break at Niton Barns on the Isle of Wight in a two-bedroom barn for up to four people and their dogs. Prize available to be taken: October 2012 – March 2013.
Niton Barns is a five-star, luxury, dog-friendly barn complex located in the picturesque village of Niton on the Island's southern tip. To find out more about Niton Barns, visit: www.nitonbarns.co.uk.
About the runners up prizes
Free return car ferry tickets to the Isle of Wight are for a car, four passengers and their furry friends. Travel is from Portsmouth or Lymington and is subject to availability.
To find out more about Wightlink and its ferry routes, visit: www.wightlink.co.uk
